Author: Jodi

Jonas went to two Old Black Kettle rehearsals this week.  It was fun for me to watch Jake, Lex, and Kenny vie for his musical attention.  HaHa!!!  I loved seeing him peace-ing out on Julie’s lap, turning his little head and visibly listening to the upright bass, the mandolin, and the dobro, each in turn.  Of all the instruments, he seemed to be especially attuned to the dobro…it warranted a steady flurry of coos when he was holding on to Sarah.  

Here is a picture of the newest addition to the Old Black Kettle family.  (From left to right and back to front: Sarah, Lex, Kenny, Jake, Jonas, Jodi, and Julie.)

So, I was thinking tonight about what an inspiration my dear cousin and friend, Heather, has been to me…in having a natural childbirth with a midwife, in blogging about our family, in making homemade baby food for Jonas (when he starts on solids), and in walking out many other motherly and wifely endeavors…and I just wanted to say: “Thank you, Heather. You are a blessing to my life and to my heart.  I love you!!!”  :) 

We have really been enjoying the warm, end-of-winter weather and getting outside as a family for a little bit of hiking and frisbee golf.  🙂

Look at our big boy sitting up in his Bumbo seat!!!  How super cute is he?!?  

Jonas is up for a bit more tummy time these days…he does best with a little bit of sunlight, a little bit of music, and/or a little bit of Mommy or Daddy beside him.  He seems to enjoy it more now than he used to…I think he’s beginning to realize his own strength and to see how much fun the world can be from a different angle.

The first day of February was a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day.  And Tom and I took Jonas for his first hike at Radnor Lake.  We suited him all up in the Baby Bjorn and hit the South Lake Trail.  He likes to face out now so he can see what’s going on, and he’s gotten so much bigger that we had to readjust the buckle to fit him. He actually fell asleep on the way back down the trail to the car (you can see the nap coming on him in the picture of both of us together), with his little head laid back, just soaking up the sun. He stayed awake for a surprisingly good bit of the hike, though…enough that I kept asking Tom, “Does he still have his eyes open?” He’s just so peaceful and quiet in his observance of the world sometimes.  It’s really quite precious.  

I had to put this picture on the website, because it’s just so cute!!!  Here is Jonas in his Farm Animal Exersaucer. Jonas and I sat in the floor with Tom while he put it together…Jonas was mesmerized by all of the colors.  He’s still a bit too little for it, but we know he’ll have a blast in it when the time comes…

We met Meme and Papa, Aunt Julie, and Aunt Jeanne at the Cracker Barrel for breakfast to celebrate Papa’s birthday.  Here is a picture of Jonas enjoying some Papa time.  🙂

Jonas is as easy going as he looks in this picture.  

His new things lately are:  waking up pretty consistently at 6:00 am every morning with a big smile on his face…flirting with the sunlight, kickboxing, and vocalizing in twenty different expressive ways; averaging anywhere from five to eight hours of sleep at a stretch at night; shoving his little fists in his newly drooling mouth; staring at his hands (he just started doing that today); protesting tummy time and coming awfully close to rolling over onto his back in the process; talking to the baby he sees in the mirror on his bouncy seat; laughing at his Mommy and Daddy in their fumbling attempts at teaching him sign language; and delighting in his farm animal musical mobile.

He is truly a joy…we are having so much fun with him!!!

Jonas and I had so much fun hanging out today on the set of the Marty Stuart Show, listening to Grandma and Pops do their magical musical thing!!!  (Jonas was mid-yawn in this picture, as he had just woken up from a nap, all cozy during the show in Mommy’s arms and lullabied by the beautiful country music.)  🙂  Words cannot express what a blessing it is for me to be able to share with my son what it feels like to grow up around music…

Here is Jonas in the onesie Dreemer gave him for Christmas.

Jonas has smiled and laughed since he was born (and, no, I don’t think it’s just gas).  🙂 Lately, he has been smiling and laughing a lot and finding his voice with little coos and even a very distinct, attention-getting, little baby yell.

As I was nursing Jonas on New Year’s Eve, my heart was full of thankfulness for my husband, my baby boy, and my life, when I heard fireworks and thought how good and right it was to celebrate the end of a banner year with that sound and feeling.

We hung out with Grandma and Pops on New Year’s Day…Jonas was eight weeks old.  (A beautiful picture that Uncle Kerry took, of Jonas napping with Pops in front of the fire, is forthcoming.)  

Here is Jonas’ acting debut…he was baby Jesus in the Seyfried Family Christmas Pageant…also starring Lindsey as the narrator, Lily as the angel, Kaitlyn and Andrew as Mary and Joseph, Audrey and Sam as the shepherds, and John and Peter as the wise men.  

Jonas very much enjoyed his first road trip to Virginia to spend the holidays with the Seyfrieds.  Here is a group shot.  (From left to right and back to front…Aunt Mary, Uncle Tim, Aunt Tree, Cousin Sam, Uncle Dave, Jonas, Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Sherri, Uncle Rich, Grandma Jackie, Cousin Lindsey, Cousin Kaitlyn, Cousin Lily, Cousin Andrew, Grandpa Phil, Cousin Peter, Cousin John, and Cousin Audrey.)

Jonas was seven weeks old on Christmas Day.  Here he is in the AMAZING stocking that Grandma Jackie made for him.  🙂  (Thanks to Aunt Sherri for the idea of putting him in it for a picture.)